Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-28
OUR SCHOOL BOOKS.
The Report of the Joint Committee to In
yestigate Contracts.

Inc report OF the Joint Committee 10 IN
yestigate Contracts.
Special Ttle9rGm 10 the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, February 27.-
Appended is the report Of the Committee
to investigate the letting of contracts for
the supply OF school books by the former
State Superintendent of Free Schools sub
mitted Friday. The Joint Resolution
under which the Committee was appoint
ed, was introduced by Pres. Morris, of
Richie, who was appointed on the COM
mittee. That the gentleman introduced
the resolution for purely political purposes
is plain, in view OF his action in the COM
mittee, where he did all in his power to
obstruct the investigation, which must eX-
onerate the former Superintendent, and
then when the committee reported he
presented . minority report stating that
the committee had not done its duty. The
majority report is as follows:
TO the Senate and House Of Delegates:
Your joint committee appointed under
Senate Joint Resolution No. II 10 investi-
gate the matter of letting of contracts for
the supply OF school books by the former
State Superintendent OF Free Schools, and
to ascertain and report whether or not the
prices paid for such books are excessive or
exhorbitant beg leave TO report rs follows:
The committee has inquired into the
matter OF the letting Ofcontracts, and finds
that the LegislstuIe by an act passed in
1879, provided for contracts for the period
of five years from July l, 1879; that the
then State Superintendent OF Free Schools,
DIR. w. X. PendletOn, made and entered
into contracts with several publishers OF
the respective class books prescribed by
Section So of the school law. to be fur
nished to dealers and other citizens
of this State at retail for the lowest
wholesale price Of said books, made to
any other State, firm or person; that these
contracts expired on June 30, 1854; that
by Chapter q Ofthe Acts of 1855, the State
Superintendent was directed to contract
with the Sc Seral publishers of the reSpcc-
tive class books prescribed by law upon
the same terms and conditions ~ the
former contract under the act of 1879;
that L. l.. Butcher, then State Superin-
tendent, entered into contracts with the
several publishers for the supply Of said
books for the period of five years, on the
same terms and conditions rs provided by
the former contract. They believe that
said contracts are legal and valid, and that
in the matter of the letting of the same the
law has been fully and faithfully complied
with.
Your committee further report that
they have inquired as TO whether or not
the prices paid for such books are eX-
cesSiye or exhOrbitant." They believe
from the best information they have been
able to obtain, that the prices charged for
said books are lower i'll this State than in
most other States and localities, and in no
case that they have found are the same
books or books OF similar quality furnish
ell at Il lower price than that charged to
the people OF this State.
Your committee therefore concludes
that the prices paid by our citizens for the
school books used in the schools OF the
State are not excessive but oil the con-
trary are a. low or lower than are paid by
the citizens OF other States for the same
books, or books of equal standard and
quality.
Aud having fully reported, your COM
mittee asks to be discharged.
Respectfully submmitted,
j. j. WUuES,
.IOnN ID. SWEENEY,
JOSEPH Il. HOME,
K +. CHEN,
A. II. THAYER.